The MA in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design is a full-time programme running over 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

This Masters programme is taught through a mixture of classroom, field and studio sessions that cover theoretical, practical and design work. A mandatory 7- to 8-day study visit (within Ireland) is included in the Semester 2. Shorter study visits (optional) and day field visits are included in other modules where appropriate.

Applicants should have a degree at Second Class Honours level (or higher) in an appropriate subject in the fields of Science, Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Law, Commerce, Engineering, Architecture, or Government or similar. Selection will be based on academic achievement, an interview and relevant work experience (if any). Applicants who hold a degree at a level lower than Second Class honours may also be considered following a review of their individual qualifications and their experience in a relevant field and admission will be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I
Core Modules
Students take 55 credits as follows:
LW6106 Legal Concepts for Heritage and the Environment (5 credits)
PD6106 Infrastructure and Transport in Land Use Planning (5 credits)
PD6112 Drawing, Spatial Data and Observation Skills (5 credits)
PD6113 Communication and Engagement Skills in Planning (5 credits)
PD6114 Planning Processes, Administration and Participation (5 credits)
PD6116 Urban and Metropolitan Spatial Planning (5 credits)
PD6118 Principles of Urban Design and Place-making (5 credits)
PD6120 Landscape Character, Context and Change (5 credits)
PD6121 Open Space, Landscape and Design (5 credits)
PD6122 Planning and Design for Built Heritage (5 credits)
PD6207 Spatial Planning and Landscape for Rural Environments (5 credits)

Electives
Students take 5 credits from the following:

AE6001 Ecological Site Assessment (5 credits)
AE6016 Strategic Environmental Assessment (5 credits)
GG3037 Geography of Heritage (5 credits)
PD6205 Planning and Management of Natural Resources (5 credits)

Electives are to be chosen in consultation with the Programme Director, subject to availability and timetable requirements in any given year or Semester.

Part II
PD6123 Dissertation in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design (30 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design
Students who pass Part 1 (including those who pass with an aggregate score of less than 50%) may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design.

Transfer from the MA in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design to Year 2 of the MPlan
Students who pass all modules in Part I with an aggregate score of 50% (i.e. 600 out of 1200 marks) may, alternatively, opt not to proceed to Part II of the MA programme and transfer instead to the Second Year of the Masters programme in Planning and Sustainable Development (MPlan2) in the following academic year (full-time).

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2016 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2015/2016.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Foster a holistic and cross disciplinary appreciation of landscape and landscape change in urban, rural, coastal and upland environments at different spatial scales;
• Recognise and appreciate the basic principles of conservation, protection and preservation of built heritage in different places and settings;
• Prepare and present imaginative, appropriate and sustainable design responses to contemporary place-making challenges based on best practice use of data, research, evidence and design skills;
• Communicate effectively with communities, civil society, government, professionals, developers and other stakeholders with respect to the quality of places and the application of best practice approaches to decision-making about conservation, change and development;
• Appreciate how to operate effectively within the key administrative, technical and legal processes and systems which define the spatial planning, regulation and management of the landscape, heritage and design assets of cities, regions, settlements and rural environments;
• Recognise the design context of different places and the character of different landscapes in order to apply appropriate analysis and assessment tools for managing change in effective and creative ways;
• Formulate practical ideas for how new development can respect the character, traditions and quality of existing places while - in appropriate circumstances - facilitating change, improvement and development;
• Evaluate the various contemporary theories of design, landscape, built heritage and open space with a particular emphasis on deriving research-based, effective and sustainable outcomes for the common good.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape, Built Heritage and Design (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of landscape and landscape change in urban, rural, coastal and upland environments at different spatial scales;
• Describe the basic principles of conservation, protection and preservation of built heritage in different places and settings;
• Recognise appropriate and sustainable design responses to contemporary place-making challenges;
• Communicate effectively with relevant stakeholders with respect to the quality of places and the application of best practice approaches to decision-making about conservation, change and development for the common good;
• Explain the key administrative, technical and legal processes and systems which define the spatial planning, regulation and management of the landscape, heritage and design assets of cities, regions, settlements and rural environments;
• Recognise the design context of different places and the character of different landscapes and identify the key factors in assessing and managing in the impact of change;
• Appreciate the ways in which new development can respect the character, traditions and quality of existing places while - in appropriate circumstances - facilitating change, improvement and development;
• Discuss contemporary theories of design, landscape, built heritage and open space within the context of relevant regulatory and decision making processes.